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<\/a>Generic fidget spinner.<\/p><\/div>\n
A device inspired by\u00a0fidget spinner<\/a>\u00a0toys can diagnose a urinary tract infection (UTI) in less than an hour, without the need for a laboratory or electricity.<\/p>\n The device takes advantage of the centrifugal force generated by spinning to push the urine sample through a membrane lining its interior. Any bacteria in the urine will be separated from the liquid and stick to the surface of the membrane. Adding a dye that stains bacterial cells orange will then reveal their presence within 45 minutes.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is easy to operate,\u201d says Yoon-Kyoung Cho at the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology in South Korea. One or two spins is usually enough to get a diagnosis, she says. [NewScientist<\/strong><\/a>]<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Can this be generalized to handle other pathogens? Perhaps a dye specific to certain classes of pathogens? Distributed test processing, as I think of it, might take significant pressure of medical test processing. We already do this with glucose monitoring strips: a prick of the finger and the test gear, miniaturized in a little box, soon has your number for you.<\/p>\n On the other hand, I have to wonder if this would have a negative or positive effect on the environment relative to more traditional test processing methods.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This possible advance both amuses me and makes me wonder: A device inspired by\u00a0fidget spinner\u00a0toys can diagnose a urinary tract infection (UTI) in less than an hour, without the need for a laboratory or electricity. The device takes advantage of the centrifugal force generated by spinning to push the urine \u2026 Continue reading